James Taylor leads a much-changed side into what he says is a "new era" for England cricket when they face Ireland in a one-day international at Malahide, near Dublin, on Friday. After their underwhelming performance at the World Cup, when they lost their four games against Test nations and failed to reach the knockout stage, the England selectors have rung the changes with no fewer than six players in line to make their one-day international debut, five of whom have never represented England in any format.
With regular one-day captain and former Ireland international Eoin Morgan allowed to miss this one-off game to play in the Indian Premier League, Taylor gets the chance to captain his country for the first time. "It will be a real honour to lead out a young England side and although I have got the job by default because there were a few guys in the West Indies on the Test tour, it is really a special moment," said Taylor. "But there are plenty of fresh faces and young, exciting talent. It's a new era for England cricket, a chance to park the World Cup and look forward to a fresh start."
Surrey's Cambridge graduate Zafar Ansari, Kent wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings, Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory, Hampshire batsman James Vince and Northamptonshire all-rounder David Willey are all hoping for an England debut while Surrey's Jason Roy is, so far, a T20 specialist. Meanwhile Adil Rashid and Mark Wood can expect a game after travelling back early from the West Indies, where England could only manage a 1-1 draw against opponents labelled "mediocre" by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.
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